List of Nigerian writers

This is a list of Nigerian writers.

A

Chris Abani, 2019

Chinua Achebe, 1966

Ayobami Adebayo, 2018

Saheed Aderinto, 2016

• Chris Abani (born 1966), novelist, playwright and poet
• Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (born 1998), novelist
• Chinua Achebe (1930–2013), novelist, poet and critic
• Catherine Obianuju Acholonu (1951–2014), academic
• Ayobami Adebayo (born 1988), novelist
• Remi Adedeji (born 1937), children's writer and academic editor
• Abimbola Adelakun, novelist
• Sade Adeniran, novelist and filmmaker
• Gbemisola Adeoti, poet, academic, and actor
• Saheed Aderinto (born 1979), author and academic
• Akin Adesokan, novelist and scholar
• Toyin Adewale-Gabriel (born 1969), poet
• Tomi Adeyemi (born 1993), novelist and writing coach
• Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (born 1977), novelist and poet
• S. A. Afolabi (born 1966), novelist, short-story writer
• Adedayo Agarau (born 1994), poet and essayist
• Ifeoma Aggrey-Fynn (d. 2015), writer
• Tolu Ajayi (born 1946), poet and writer of fiction
• Tolu Akinyemi, writer, poet
• Dami Ajayi, poet, essayist
• Yemi Ajibade (1929–2013), playwright and actor
• Audrey Ajose (born 1937), journalist and juvenile fiction writer
• Uwem Akpan (born 1971), Jesuit priest and writer
• Henry Akubuiro, journalist and novelist
• Hauwa Ali (died 1995), novelist
• Akilu Aliyu (1918–1998), poet
• Zaynab Alkali (born 1950), novelist, short-story writer and academic
• T. M. Aluko (1918–2010), novelist and autobiographer
• Elechi Amadi (1934–2016), novelist
• Ifi Amadiume (born 1947), poet, anthropologist and essayist
• I. N. C. Aniebo (born 1939), writer
• Karen King-Aribisala, short-story writer, novelist and academic
• Yemisi Aribisala (born 1973), essayist and food memoirist
• Nana Asmau (1793–1864)
• Odafe Atogun, writer
• Sefi Atta (born 1964), novelist, short-story writer and playwright
• Adaeze Atuegwu (born 1977), novelist and playwright
• Theophilus Olabode Avoseh (1908–1999), historian
• Uche Azikiwe (born 1947), author
• Nnorom Azuonye (1967–2024), theatre director, playwright and poet

B

• Rotimi Babatunde, playwright
• Esther Bali (born 1947), writer of folktale stories, playwright
• Biyi Bandele (1967–2022), novelist, playwright, filmmaker
• Bunmi Banjo (born 1977)
• A. Igoni Barrett (born 1979), novelist, short-story writer
• Lindsay Barrett (born 1941), poet, novelist, essayist, playwright, journalist
• Olumbe Bassir (1919–2001)
• Muhammed Bello (1781–1837)
• Philip Begho (born 1956), dramatist, short-story writer, poet
• T. J. Benson, novelist and short-story writer
• Omoseye Bolaji (1964–2022), writer of history, poetry, Islamic studies
• Natasha Bowen, novelist and teacher
• Oyinkan Braithwaite (born 1988), novelist
• Bashorun Seinde Arogbofa (born 1939), writer, author

C

• Chin Ce (born 1966)
• Chinweizu (born 1943), critic, essayist, poet, journalist
• John Pepper Clark (1935–2020), poet, playwright
• Teju Cole (born 1975), novelist, essayist
• Samuel Ajayi Crowther (1807–1891), linguist, translator, diarist, explorer, writer

D

• Usman dan Fodio (1754–1817), poet, political and societal theorist, law and jurisprudence writer
• Abi Dare
• Jude Dibia (born 1975)
• Antera Duke, diarist

E

• Michael Echeruo (born 1937), poet, critic
• Amatoritsero (Godwin) Ede
• Chike Frankie Edozien
• Philip Effiong (1925–2003)
• Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki
• Cyprian Ekwensi (1921–2007), novelist, short-story writer
• Buchi Emecheta (1944–2017), novelist
• E. Nolue Emenanjo (1943–2016)
• Akwaeke Emezi (born 1987)
• Olaudah Equiano (c. 1745–97)
• Femi Euba (born 1942), dramatist
• Dickson Ekhaguere, playwright

F

• Daniel Olorunfemi Fagunwa (1903–1963), novelist
• Adebayo Faleti (1930–2017)
• Toyin Falola (born 1953)
• Dan Fulani
• Bilkisu Funtuwa
• Flora Nwapa (1931–1993)

G

• Godspower Oboido (born 1988), poet and essayist
• Ukawsaw Gronniosaw (1705–1775), autobiographer

H

• Helon Habila (born 1967), novelist
• Obo Aba Hisanjani (born 1949), poet
• Helen Oyeyemi (born 1984), novelist

I

• Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (born 1979)
• Emmanuel Iduma (born 1989), novelist, essayist, and academic
• Jordan Ifueko (born 1993), novelist
• Chukwuemeka Ike (1931–2020), monarch, academic, writer
• Nnanna Ikpo, novelist
• Ejikeme Ikwunze
• Abubakar Imam (1911–1981)
• Eghosa Imasuen (born 1976)
• Tade Ipadeola (born 1970), poet
• Akinwunmi Isola, playwright, dramatist and scholar
• Uzodinma Iweala (born 1982)
• Festus Iyayi (1947–2013)

J

• John Jea (1773–?)
• Elnathan John (born 1982)
• Samuel Johnson (1846–1901)

K

• Toni Kan (born 1971)
• Stephen Kekeghe (born 1982) writer and academic
• Farooq Kperogi (born 1973), author, columnist, journalism professor

L

• Duro Ladipo (1931–1978)
• Logan February (born 1999)

M

• Amina Mama (born 1958)
• Sarah Ladipo Manyika (born 1968), novelist, short story writer, essayist
• Oliver Mbamara
• Sebastian Okechukwu Mezu (born 1941)
• Dele Momodu (born 1960)
• John Munonye (1929–1999)

N

• Nnamani Grace Odi (born 2001), writer and entrepreneur
• Niran Adedokun, novelist, journalist and columnist
• Okey Ndibe, novelist, columnist, journalist and scholar
• Echezonachukwu Nduka (born 1989), poet, classical pianist
• Uche Nduka (born 1963), poet
• Iheoma Nwachukwu poet and writer of fiction
• Martina Nwakoby (born 1937)
• Nkem Nwankwo (1936–2001), novelist, poet
• Flora Nwapa (1931–1993), novelist
• Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani (born 1976), novelist, humorist, essayist and journalist
• Onuora Nzekwu (1928–2017)
• Onyeka Nwelue (born 1988)
• Chuma Nwokolo (born 1963), writer, poet, humorist, essayist and lawyer
• Abdul Rasheed Na'Allah (born 1962), writer, poet, scholar and performer

O

• Chigozie Obioma (born 1986), novelist
• Obiwu (born 1962), poet, theorist
• Moses Ochonu, academic, historian
• Ike Odimegwu
• Josephat Obi Oguejiofor
• Olu Oguibe (born 1964)
• Ike Oguine
• Molara Ogundipe (1940–2019)
• Wole Oguntokun, playwright
• Tanure Ojaide (born 1948), poet, critic
• Bayo Ojikutu (born 1971), novelist, essayist, short story writer
• Gabriel Okara (1921–2019), poet
• Chioma Okereke, novelist, poet
• Christopher Okigbo (1932–1967), poet
• Julie Okoh (born 1947), playwright
• Nnedi Okorafor (born 1974), writer of fantasy and science fiction
• Ifeoma Okoye (born 1937), novelist
• Chinelo Okparanta (born 1981), novelist and short-story writer
• Isidore Okpewho (1941–2016), novelist, critic
• Ben Okri (born 1959), poet, novelist
• Suyi Davies Okungbowa (born 1989), fantasy and science fiction author
• Afolabi Olabimtan (1932–2003)
• Olatubosun Oladapo (born 1943), poet, playwright
• Ukamaka Olisakwe (born 1982)
• Simbo Olorunfemi, poet, journalist
• Rita Omokha, journalist and author
• Kole Omotosho (1943–2023), novelist
• Kola Onadipe (1922–1988)
• Nuzo Onoh (born 1962), African horror author
• Chibundu Onuzo (born 1991)
• Osonye Tess Onwueme (born 1955)
• Nduka Onwuegbute (born 1969)
• Ifeoma Onyefulu (born 1959)
• Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia
• Bukola Oriola (born 1976)
• Romeo Oriogun
• Dennis Osadebay (1911–1995), poet
• Femi Osofisan (born 1946)
• E. C. Osondu, short-story writer, novelist
• Ayodele Olofintuade (born 1970s), novelist
• Ifeoma Mabel Onyemelukwe (born 1950)
• Niyi Osundare (born 1947), poet, dramatist and literary critic
• Onyinye Ough
• Helen Ovbiagele (born 1944), novelist
• Oyèrónkẹ́ Oyěwùmí
• Olamidotun Votun-Obada

R

• Remi Sonaiya (born 1955)
• Remi Raji (born 1961), poet, academic
• Romeo Oriogun, poet
• Ola Rotimi (1938–2000), novelist, theatre director and playwright

S

• Ken Saro-Wiwa (1941–1995), playwright, novelist, poet
• Mabel Segun (1930–2025), poet, playwright
• Lola Shoneyin (born 1974), novelist, poet
• Zulu Sofola (1935–1995), playwright
• Bode Sowande (born 1948), playwright
• Wole Soyinka (born 1934), playwright, poet, novelist; Nobel laureate, (1986)
• Ibrahim Sheme (born 1968), novelist, poet, publisher

T

• Amos Tutuola (1920–1997), novelist
• Kola Tubosun (born 1981), poet, essayist and linguist
• Tomi Favored (born 1987)

U

• Obiora Udechukwu (born 1946), poet
• Gracy Ukala (born 1946), novelist
• Adaora Lily Ulasi (1932–2016), novelist
• Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike (born 1975), poet
• Chika Unigwe (born 1974), novelist
• Sam Ukala (1948–2021), playwright, prose fiction writer and poet

V

• Mamman Jiya Vatsa (1944–1986), poet
• Jumoke Verissimo (born 1979), poet

W

• Ken Wiwa (1968–2016), biographer
• Molara Wood (born 1969), short-story writer, journalist

Y

• Balaraba Ramat Yakubu (born 1959), Hausa-language writer

Z

• Sa'adu Zungur (1914–1958), poet and revolutionary

See also

• List of African writers by country
• List of Nigerian poets
• List of Nigerian women writers
• Hausa literature
• Yoruba literature
• Igbo literature
• Efik literature
• Third Generation of Nigerian writers